Crews respond to fire in Spruce View that engulfed two homes

Roughly 22 firefighters were on scene, including crews from Red Deer County, Innisfail, Bowden, and Sylvan Lake.

Upon arrival, crews found the original structure fully involved in fire and, based on the conditions they declared defensive operations, meaning crews were unable to safely enter the building. Instead, they focused on containing the fire from the exterior.

As the incident progressed, firefighters identified a second structure that caught fire from the exposure of the other building.

Crews shifted their efforts and began an aggressive offensive attack on the structure, including an interior operation where they searched for anyone inside.

The structure conditions changed, and it was no longer safe for the firefighters to be inside. The captain made the decision to withdraw and moved to a defensive strategy.

“Once the additional support from Sylvan Lake, Innisfail, and Bowden arrived, crews were divided between the two structures to maintain the defensive operations and prevent further fire spread,” Skidmore said.

Skidmore said the fire was under control by 11:55 a.m. and there were no reports of civilian or firefighter injuries.

The cause of the original fire is under investigation.

“It was a total loss. We did have to bring a tractor in just to start knocking walls down so we could get in further to get the fires under control,” Skidmore said.

by Ian Gustafson

Crews respond to fire in Spruce View that engulfed two homes

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